Suggestions: Keeping the Game Fun

[Metathetical]

Elemental Damage - [...] Black mages should have every elemental attack spell that comes in three varieties: single attack, DoT, and AoE [...] Attack spells should all have the same potency, unless used on a monster that either resist or outright absorbs the damage

This would be a great way to add hotbar bloat without adding much depth, because 90-95% of the time the enemy wouldn't resist or be weak to any elements so you'd just pick whichever element you like the most and go through your rotation. And for the other 5-10%, you'd just... do the same rotation but with the right element. The only times where it might possibly be interesting would be if you had mixed elemental resistances in the same pack.

Think about the other single-player FF games: elemental weaknesses basically never forced interesting choices, it just became 'equip this weapon to deal double the damage' or 'only use fire magic'. That's boring.

Like I said in the post, there can be an optional land mass or zones where people who enjoy this at least have the options whereas those who don't can continue with the way things are now.

So why would people go there? What incentive are you going to give people to do the harder content?

[MagiusNecros]

Think about the other single-player FF games: elemental weaknesses basically never forced interesting choices, it just became 'equip this weapon to deal double the damage' or 'only use fire magic'. That's boring.

So far BLM is pretty much only use Fire Magic. So yeah BLM can be pretty boring. Where all the fun spells at.

[Nandina]

. . .So why would people go there? What incentive are you going to give people to do the harder content?

I never implied that there wouldn't be rewards or anything, just another way to obtain it. By optional I meant, people who don't prefer that type of content don't have to do it. Just as those who don't prefer to do Binding Coil or Alexander Savage don't have to do it but still have ways of acquiring rewards. None of this has to be the norm across the board for everyone. And like the poster said above me, black mage is even more boring now lol. And as far as most monsters resisting elements, newer enemies can be made to have elemental weaknesses and affiliations.

As for the hotbar issue, I personally feel there's adequate space. I personally reserve cross hotbars 1-4 for my classes. And if this is still too little space, which I doubt, there can always be saved hotbar sets, like a different 1-8. I play on PS4 so if you're on PC it may be diff for you.

[Metathetical]

So instead of going F4 F4 F1 F4 F4 F1 B3 T1 F3 repeat, you go... fire 1 forever because the boss doesn't have any elemental resistances or weaknesses and so there's no reason to use any other spell (except maybe whatever the fire DoT is). How is that more fun?

[DPZ2]

To the OP:

You have some interesting ideas. Take them to a game company and convince them to make that game. You'll be able to determine then whether the market for the game could be as wide and popular as FFXIV currently.

I doubt that FFXIV will ever be that game -- it simply cannot be that game and remain FFXIV.

That's not a bad thing -- people tend to take the bits and pieces they like from other games and want to see them in this one. Some of it can happen, if it fits with what is already here, if the mechanics fit with what is already being done, if the story-line-extensions mesh with the current story-line.

Just don't be upset if it doesn't happen in FFXIV.

[MagiusNecros]

So instead of going F4 F4 F1 F4 F4 F1 B3 T1 F3 repeat, you go... fire 1 forever because the boss doesn't have any elemental resistances or weaknesses and so there's no reason to use any other spell (except maybe whatever the fire DoT is). How is that more fun?

You listed 7 Fire spells, 1 Ice spell, and 1 Thunder spell. Such choice, such diversity. Much fun.

[Metathetical]

You listed 7 Fire spells, 1 Ice spell, and 1 Thunder spell. Such choice, such diversity. Much fun.

As opposed to the 'literally only two spells' rotation, which is a magical wonderland of gameplay diversity?

If you want a caster job that's built around pressing all the buttons all the time, play summoner.

[DPZ2]

You listed 7 Fire spells, 1 Ice spell, and 1 Thunder spell. Such choice, such diversity. Much fun.

Yeah, I saw the list too. Of course, the BLM has more spells (at least 4 ice spells, sleep, snooze alarm, instant gratification, "don't touch me, I'm casting", etc....).

Diversity is its, um, surname.

Diversity only works if every spell is as effective as every other spell, though. The number one rule in gaming of any sort is "if it can be reduced to a rule, it will become THE rule" when it comes to rotations.

Much fun.

[Nandina]

So instead of going F4 F4 F1 F4 F4 F1 B3 T1 F3 repeat, you go... fire 1 forever because the boss doesn't have any elemental resistances or weaknesses and so there's no reason to use any other spell (except maybe whatever the fire DoT is). How is that more fun?

Well if the class would to hypothetically be changed to incorporate elemental spells, the way the entire class is set up would have to be revamped too. It's still mostly casting fire with the occasional blizzard 3 and thunder 2. It can still keep the other spells like sleep, convert, swiftcast, manaward, etc. One suggestion is to give it an attack stance and an MP regeneration stance. Maybe Syphon can be a non-elemental spell used to regain MP by draining it from the mob. It can be done. It'd just take some thought. Like I said in that particular section I'd understand if it wasn't done.

To the OP:

You have some interesting ideas. Take them to a game company and convince them to make that game. You'll be able to determine then whether the market for the game could be as wide and popular as FFXIV currently.

I doubt that FFXIV will ever be that game -- it simply cannot be that game and remain FFXIV.

That's not a bad thing -- people tend to take the bits and pieces they like from other games and want to see them in this one. Some of it can happen, if it fits with what is already here, if the mechanics fit with what is already being done, if the story-line-extensions mesh with the current story-line.

Just don't be upset if it doesn't happen in FFXIV.

I won't be, lol. The thing is I was talking to a few friends about this and we were all saying we wish we knew someone who could build a game and would actually be interested. I do enjoy the game, don't get me wrong, it just seems to be missing a few things. So thought I'd just offer some kind of suggestion.

[MagiusNecros]

As opposed to the 'literally only two spells' rotation, which is a magical wonderland of gameplay diversity?

If you want a caster job that's built around pressing all the buttons all the time, play summoner.

I simply don't agree that a BLM should only ever be casting Fire and Ice. Add some damn flavor.

Give me real status effects and ones that work everywhere, Death spells, the works. Thunder a DoT? Flare expends all MP? Meteor limited to a LB3 you'll almost never use? Cast time reduction circle dwarfed by Doton and Salted Earth or any Boss AoE? Unsurecast? Worthless. When should I use Blizzard 2? Never. List goes on.

Summoner:

Which revolves around putting up DoTs, has minimal involvement with your "pet" and borrows tradition old spells from Black Mages like Bio and Drain. Has little to do with summoning, HW skills have nothing to do with the Pets at all and comes off as a half assed Necromancer class. It's obvious the real work was put into Scholar.

Well if the class would to hypothetically be changed to incorporate elemental spells, the way the entire class is set up would have to be revamped too. It's still mostly casting fire with the occasional blizzard 3 and thunder 2. It can still keep the other spells like sleep, convert, swiftcast, manaward, etc. One suggestion is to give it an attack stance and an MP regeneration stance. Maybe Syphon can be a non-elemental spell used to regain MP by draining it from the mob. It can be done. It'd just take some thought. Like I said in that particular section I'd understand if it wasn't done.

If anything I'd just like to inflict status effects(and not ones that just do damage) and make Sleep and similar spells useful. As it stands BLM already has the 2 stances you refer to when they are in AF or UI.

Convert should honestly be sharing the same cooldown timer as Transpose, be shorter or be simply inaccessible with HP limitations. Spells like Freeze and Bliz2 though? PvP spells. Freeze should be freezing not binding but whatever. *shrug*

Surecast makes me mad with only stopping interrupts from flat damage. Receive knockback, draw in, paralysis, and it gets interrupted. Ayup. Sounds great doesn't it.

Flare doesn't take into account any MP you expend for higher potencies. Missed opportunity.

It's just a shame that a lot of job classes are capable of so much more yet are relegated to something so simplistic that there is no creativity or customization into playstyle. The one way is the best way. However that's evident with the game and it's design by default.